By Alimatu Jalloh
Ahmed Al-Saleh, a Syrian National, who is also the Chief Security Officer has led evidence against three accused persons who allegedly broke into the Company’s facility at Kissy Dockyard in Freetown. The three, Dauda Kamara, Zachariah Swaray and Bai Fullah Kamara Alias I.T appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Court No 1 at Ross Road in Freetown.
The Police are alleging that recently the accused persons entered Sierra Leone Fishing Company’s business establishment and stole two welding machines, Zummertible Pump, Welding Cable, Electrical cable and other items to the total value of NLe168,805 belonging to the Company.
The accused had been arraigned in court for the offences of conspiracy, store breaking, larceny and receiving stolen goods contrary to law.
According to the particulars of offence, the police are claiming that the accused persons, Dauda Kamara, Alias Kakay Junior, and Bai Fullah Kamara Alias I.T., on Monday 21st August, 2023 at Kissy Dockyard in Freetown, conspired with unknown persons and broke into Sierra Leone Fishing Company and stole from there the valuables that had been mentioned to the total value of NLe168,805.
The Police believe that Zachariah Swaray, on the same date at Government Boatyard, at Kissy Dockyard in Freetown, received a welding machine valued at NLe44,000 belonging to the Sierra Leone Fishing Company.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura, the first prosecution witness, Ahmed Al-Saleh a Syrian national, who is the Chief Security Officer of the Sierra Leone Fishing Company recognized the accused and recalled that on the 21st of August, 2023, he received a call from the second accused, instructing him to proceed to the crime scene.
He added that upon receipt of that information, he left for the crime scene, adding that when he arrived there, the second accused, Alias T. I. told him that the first accused, Dauda Kamara wanted to explain something to him.
The first prosecution witness furthered that the second accused had given him some information about the first accused person which after receiving prompted them to search the back of the store.
During the search, he observed that the accused person had destroyed a window guard and had removed them, adding that he then instructed the co-workers of the first accused first to bring the first accused before him, which they did.
The witness said he then instructed the first accused to hand over his mobile phone to him, but he refused and jumped into the sea, which warranted him to report to the Company’s top management that the store keeper, whose name was withheld, was not around by then.
At this stage the police prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura, sought for adjournment for him to have proper conference with his witness, which was granted by Magistrate Kekura.
Before the adjourned date, defence counsel A.B. Kamara renewed and adopted his previous application for bail on behalf of the first accused.
Responding, Magistrate Kekura denied the first accused person bail and remanded him at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown, while the bail of the third accused, Bai Fullah Kamara continues.
The Magistrate then adjourned the matter to the 27th of September, 2023 for further hearing.